Food can be classified into six (6) and these classes helps us know the nutrients our daily meal must contain in order to have a balanced diet. The quality and quantity of the nutrients consumed is very important. On the bases of adequacy or inadequacy of the quantity and quality of nutrients consumed, there can be malnutrition, under-nutrition, and over-nutrition.
What is Food
Food is a basic need of a person. It is one of the physiological needs that are very basic to a person. The quantity and quality of the food that a person consumes must be adequate. When adequate quantity and quality of the foods are eaten, there will be:
- Vitality
- Good health
- Emotional stability
- Resistance against illnesses and diseases
- Enthusiasm for the challenges of life
When either the quantity or the quality of the foods is inadequate, there can be:
- Lack of stamina
- Poor Physical Appearances
- Tiredness
- Lack of enthusiasm
- High susceptibility to illnesses and diseases.
Good nutrition makes a lot of difference in the appearance and nutritional well-being of an individual.
Foods, as meals, are eaten at certain times of the day. We then have breakfast, lunch and dinner to remove hunger at periodic intervals of the day. In between these meals, people still eat for pleasure. Certain foods are usually associated with the meals of the day. Breads, eggs, yams, cereals, fruit juices, bacon and sausage are closely associated with breakfast. Pounded yam, Amala. Eba, Semovita, Egusi soup (melon soup), Okro soups, Rice, Beans Fried plantains are often more closely associated with lunch and dinner.
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Six Classes of Food
- Carbohydrates
- Protein
- Fat and Oil
- Minerals
- Vitamins
- Water
Carbohydrates: They provide you with energy for daily tasks and are the primary fuel source for your brain’s high energy demands. Fiber is a special type of carbohydrates that helps promote good digestive health. Carbohydrates can be gotten from food like amala, rice, bread, corn, yam, potato, fibers, etc.
Protein: It has many roles in the body. It helps repair and build your body’s tissues, allows metabolic reactions to take place and coordinates bodily functions. Examples are meat, beans, fish, soya beans, eggs, peanuts,cheese, chicken.
Vitamins: They help shore up bones, heal wounds, and bolster your immune system. They also convert food into energy, and repair cellular damage.
| Vitamins | Food sources |
| Vitamin A | Eggs, milk, carrots, sweet potatoes, and cantaloupe |
| Vitamin C | Oranges, strawberries, tomatoes, kiwi, broccoli, and red and green bell peppers |
| Vitamin E | Avocados, nuts, seeds, whole-grain foods, and spinach and other dark leafy greens |
Fats: They provide energy for living organisms, insulate body organs, and transport fat-soluble vitamins through the blood. Examples are palm oils, groundnuts oil, butter, margarine, sardine, pork, egusi oil, cod liver oil
Minerals: It helps in keeping bones, muscles, heart, and brain working properly. Minerals are also important for making enzymes and hormones. Examples are cereals, bread, meat, fish, milk, dairy, nuts, fruit (especially dried fruit) and vegetables.
Water: It Regulates body temperature, moistens tissues in the eyes, nose and mouth. It also protects body organs and tissues, and carries nutrients and oxygen to cells.
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